By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

COVID-19

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,962 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the country total to 283,460.

Image/DOH

The bulk of the new cases were reported from Metro Manila (1,440), Bulacan (354), Cavite (287), Laguna (222) and Batangas (213).

Of the 3,962 reported cases on Saturday, the DOH said 83 percent or 3,286 occurred within the recent 14 days which is from Sept. 6 to 19.

100 additional COVID-19 deaths were reported taking the tally to 4,930.

Measles

The Department of Health, supported by WHO and UNICEF, will conduct the nationwide measles and polio supplemental immunization campaign starting October 26 this year. In the Philippines, an estimated 2.4M children under the age of five are susceptible for measles. Measles or tigdas is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Among those who are not immune, up to 9 out of 10 people exposed to the measles virus will contract the disease.

The nationwide Measles Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization campaign will be rolled out in two phases. Phase 1 will be conducted from 26 October to 25 November 2020 in Mindanao Regions, CAR, I, II, IV-B and V. Phase 2 will be conducted in February 2021 in Visayas Regions, NCR, III and IV-A. DOH is conducting the campaign for children under five years old— around 9.4M children for the measles-rubella vaccine and 6.9M children for the oral polio vaccine.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a high-quality immunization campaign is urgently needed to stop measles transmission and possible outbreaks. We encourage parents and caregivers to have their children immunized. The measles vaccine is safe, effective and free. To protect against COVID-19 infections, all health care workers have been trained and provided with Personal Protective Equipment,” Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque says.

In 2020, pockets of measles outbreaks are being reported in the Philippines. As of August 2020, there are around 3,500 reported measles cases with 36 deaths. Most of the cases are among children under five years old.